China Netcom gives up Olympics WiMAX service

China Netcom gives up Olympics WiMAX service

China Netcom had to relinquish its rights to provide WiMAX services for 2008 Beijing Olympics, as a sponsor for the highly anticipated global event, according to ChinaTechNews.com.

The company has lost its chance to extend into the wireless sector, leaving the service offering to China Mobile. Local media has it that China Mobile has been authorized by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad to construct a WiMAX network in Beijing.

Zhao Jidong, China Netcom senior VP, commented that although his company and China Mobile are both partners of the Olympic Games, they handle different technology tasks for the event. Zhao added that China Netcom will serve the Olympic Games by offering 800M digital cluster and China Mobile will provide the WiMAX and Wi-Fi services.